Montessori Materials

Characteristics of Montessori Materials

1. Each Montessori material should have an inner aim, either immediate or ulterior; everything needs meaning.

2. All materials should have a point of interest. The points of interest guide the child, engage them and help lead the child towards awareness of the concepts being shown in the Montessori materials.

3. The materials must be physically and developmentally in proportion to the children. They must physically suit the size of the child and presented at the correct developmental stage.

4. Montessori Materials must be: clean, intact, complete, beautiful, and simple.

5. Materials should be color coded. This gives each material an identity and completeness. It also creates harmony and calls to the child’s sense of order.

6. Exercises and Montessori materials need to reflect the child’s culture and offer relevant hands on experience (i.e. if the children do not wear leather shoes a shoe polishing lesson would not be relevant to their culture).

7. Materials must be placed within the reach of the child – at their eye level and accessible by their hands.

8. Materials must be placed logically and sequentially. Montessori materials are also presented sequentially.

9. Materials must be real and delicate. The children must have the opportunity to become aware of the gentle way in which some things must be handled and cared for. Avoid using plastic materials. Using pottery, glass and porcelain calls attention to the children, to their awareness of their own body and movements. If the class functions well (is normalized), then few things will break. International Montessori Index